It was a night to forget for Chinese football fans 😥. Wednesday's AFC Champions League matches saw both Shandong Taishan and Shanghai Shenhua stumble, dimming their hopes of advancing in the tournament.
Shandong Taishan faced a crushing 4-0 defeat against Japan's Kawasaki Frontale. From the get-go, Shandong struggled to find their groove, with Frontale dominating the pitch. Goals rained in from Marcinho, Yuki Yamamoto, Jesiel, and Shin Yamada, sealing the victory for the Japanese side and boosting them to 12 points on the leaderboard 📈.
Despite the heavy loss, there was a glimmer of hope 🌟. Xie Wenneng was the standout for Taishan, creating rare chances in the 10th and 65th minutes. But luck wasn't on their side as Ulsan goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong pulled off brilliant saves to deny them. And when Shandong striker Zeca's shot hit the woodwork, it was clear it just wasn't their night.
Meanwhile, Shanghai Shenhua didn't fare much better. Hosting South Korean champions Ulsan HD, Shenhua allowed their opponents to snag their first win of the campaign in a 2-1 upset at home 🏟️. The loss not only dampened spirits but also put a dent in their qualification aspirations.
With these results, both CSL giants face an uphill battle 🚵♂️ in their quest to move forward in the AFC Champions League. As the competition heats up, fans are left hoping for a comeback in the upcoming fixtures. Fingers crossed! 🤞
Reference(s):
Asian struggles continue for CSL giants as qualification hopes dim
cgtn.com
